Sugar & Spice Culinary Arts Celebrates Grand Opening

Wondering where that tempting aroma wafting over Garden City is coming from?  Follow your senses to Sugar & Spice Culinary Arts located at 45 New Hyde Park Road on Garden City's West End.

The new establishment celebrated with an open house the weekend of April 10, drawing a crowd of over 500 people.

Sugar & Spice offers a wide range of culinary services focusing on themed cooking classes where students cook, learn and ultimately dine in a cozy setting. Classes officially begin this Friday, April 23.

Co-owners Vivian Flood and Tricia Grieco, local moms, preside proudly over their kitchen, featuring state-of-the-art commercial grade equipment offset by a warm Country French decor. French Apilco dinnerware and inviting roosters add to the charming ambience and what the owners refer to as a "home kitchen" feeling.  

It all adds up to a well thought out realization of a dream come true. The duo had been conducting home cooking classes and received such an outpouring of requests that they decided to open their own establishment.  

Grieco, who has taken culinary classes her entire life, including training at the Culinary Institute of America and the French Culinary school, dabbled in retail and insurance but always returned to her passion for food. Flood has a BA in business and proudly recalls how she managed her college's pub and started an English muffin delivery service for hungry students. She has been teaching technique classes for Williams-Sonoma.

Both women stress, however, that they are moms whose mission is to create a warm and inviting environment where they can teach what they love. Grieco sums up her philosophy this way: "We're out there for the home cook, we want people to learn and enjoy cooking in a relaxed, friendly environment because that's where you learn the best."  

Flood adds, "Food is the one thing that everyone agrees on, sitting down to a meal brings the family together."  

Garden City resident Ann Sprotte has taken classes with the "culinary duo."

"I'm not a good cook, I have four children and a hectic lifestyle," she said. "I learned how to stock my pantry and keep staples on hand. They taught me to prepare a roast beef dinner and transform the leftovers into paninis and even Shepherd's pie. Cooking one night can yield three dinners! It's so much fun being in their class, it's not intimidating at all."

Classes accommodate eight to 12 students and offer hands-on experience and demonstrations of culinary tools and techniques. Many classes feature themed menus such as "Comfort Foods," "Tuscan Night," "Romantic Dinners," "Night in Paris" and more. Participants can also choose "how to" classes like "Steak Night," "Spring Desserts," "Pasta Sauces," "Hors d'oeuvres" and the list goes on.  

There are even options on learning how to host a dinner party, stock your pantry or cook a healthy meal. Most classes are priced at $60 per person. There's something for kids as well, including birthday parties, scout programs, summer camps and classes. Catering is also available.

Your hosts will gladly customize your session. With their effervescent personalities, local flair and talent you'll arrive for the training and food but stay for the company!

Sugar & Spice Culinary Arts is handicap accessible. To book a class, call 516-488-1008 or email info@SSCulinaryArts.com.